Firefighters Must Keep Fighting Northern California Blazes

Sacramento, CA (AHN) -- Firefighters are still working hard to get wildfires under control even after the blazes have stretched their forces thin as Northern California seems to continuously burn.

In the latest of the most threatening fires, the tourist attraction Big Sur fire threatens a 25-mile stretch of California Highway 1, which is closed. The blaze has charred over 68,000 acres so far, and 1,777 homes.

Forest Service officials reportedly said that 20 commercial properties and 195 other buildings are still in jeopardy. High temperatures forecast for Sunday are expected to make fighting the fire, which is only five percent contained, continually difficult.

Another large fire in Santa Barbara County was 24 percent contained Sunday, and weather in the area is forecast to see cooler temperatures. Winds have also been favorable, blowing the fires away from the city of Goleta, population 29,000.

Many of the fires over the last few months have been ignited by lightning. Dry conditions, high temperatures and strong winds have created ideal conditions for wild fires.

According to The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, as of July 5, there have been 1,783 peak fires this year. 1,451 have been contained, and 332 are still active. Wildfires have charred 549,155 acres across northern California.

Over 21,000 firefighters have battled the blazes. National Guard troops are currently being trained in fire fighting to help the men and women who have worked tirelessly to keep the fires at bay.

According to the CDFFP, 34 residences, one commercial building and 50 outbuildings have been destroyed in this years fires, but 10,554 homes are still threatened, along with 420 commercial buildings and 3,017 outbuildings.